Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire has once again been arrested in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. Pacifica’s Ann Garrison reports.
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On June 18, four days prior to the US attack on Iran, the ANSWER Coalition organized an antiwar rally outside the White House. Hundreds gathered to demand NO War on Iran.
Pacifica’s Thomas O’Rourke spoke at length to veteran activist and militant Starr Bowie about Israel, its history, and apartheid society, and the possibilities for progressive social change.
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On June 20th, Italy saw a national general strike protesting the genocide in Gaza, the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, and the broader economic assault on the working class. Pacifica’s Steve Zeltzer spoke with Si Cobas logistics union leader Daniele Mallamaci and International Road Transport union member Diego Biancolin about the strike and the social conditions driving it. This marks the first national strike in Europe linking opposition to genocide, war, and the austerity imposed to fund growing military budgets.
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A major fightback is underway in St. Louis to stop a white corporate and military land grab in the aftermath of last month’s major tornado, which devastated that city’s northside Black community.
Margaret Flowers spoke with Jason Westbrook, president of the St. Louis International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement Branch, and Jesse Nevel, chair of the St. Louis Uhuru Solidarity Movement.
Westbrook, a lifelong St. Louis resident, began by describing the immediate impact of the tornado and the history of forced displacement of the Black community from many areas of that city.
We thank volunteers at Pacifica Affiliate station WBPU, Black Power 96, in St. Petersburg, Florida, for production assistance.
More info on the Uhuru Movement’s work to clean-up and rebuild St. Louis’s northside Black community at blackpowerblueprint.org.
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Lastly, as we produced this show we were deeply disturbed to learn that African Stream, an independent African media outlet, has shut down. Shortly before Joe Biden left office, his Secretary of State Antony Blinken attacked the outlet, alleging that it was an agent of the Kremlin in Africa.
This triggered a wave of censorship. Within days, YouTube, Meta, Google, and TikTok removed African Stream accounts, and X demonetized them. Even their personal accounts were restricted and Bluesky eventually banned them as well. These actions shattered their ability to survive financially, creating an uphill battle every day, until they were forced to close. Executive Editor Ahmed Kaballo thanked all the outlets’ supporters on X, the only social media platform that was still allowing them to post content.
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We thank all of Pacifica’s sister stations and affiliates who contribute to the production of this show. Today’s program was produced by the Capitalism, Race & Democracy collective, with contributions from Ann Garrison, Thomas O’Rourke, Steve Zeltzer, and the host, Polina Vasiliev.
You can find this and all previous episodes at our website “capitalism race and democracy dot ORG”. Make sure you click the subscribe button. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @PacificaCRD.
Thanks for listening!
Music:
Pankrti Bandiera Rossa with Lyrics
Eddie Vedder – Masters of War (Tribute Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary)
